EN 
DE 
From Tobias Winzer
High-ranking visit to the cannabis producer in Saxony Demecan based in the district of Meißen. After the company became the first in Germany to receive a cultivation permit for medical cannabis under the new Cannabis Act, the Federal Drug Commissioner Burkhard Blienert and Saxony's Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) took a look at the production facility on Friday.
According to a press release, Blienert and Köpping will take a tour of the production facility to find out more about the manufacture of medicinal cannabis and then talk to the managing directors Constantin von der Groeben and Adrian G. Fischer.
Production capacities can be fully utilized
Demecan may be used under the new cannabis law grow unlimited quantities of medicinal cannabis. With the permit, Demecan can now increase its production capacity by an annual yield of two tons and fully utilize the existing production capacities in Ebersbach, the company announced at the end of July. According to a spokesperson, the two Canadian companies Aphria RX and Aurora with production facilities in Schleswig-Holstein and Saxony-Anhalt are also permitted to cultivate medicinal cannabis.
The three companies had issued a corresponding invitation to tender in 2019 of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) gained. However, under the old regulation, only a certain amount of cannabis could be cultivated. In total, the tender stipulated that the three companies were to produce a good ten tons over four years. In addition, the cannabis grown in Germany could only be sold to pharmacies via the state cannabis agency. With the new law, the companies will now be spared this intermediate step.
According to Demecan, the approval is "crucial to meet the growing demand for medicinal cannabis and to turn the tide in supply by shifting the focus from imports to more domestic production". "Our goal is to further increase production and thus improve security of supply, because unfortunately there are currently many bottlenecks in patient care," says Managing Director Fischer.
Sales growth since April 2024
Related articles
- Cannabis for pain can now be prescribed more easily
- Cannabis social clubs in Saxony can start: only a few applications submitted so far
- Federal Council approves cannabis limit for driving
The company also announced that it has achieved strong sales growth since April 2024. "The strong increase in demand is reflected in our good turnover and shows that we are on the right track," said Philipp Goebel, the Managing Director responsible for sales. The new cultivation permit not only enables Demecan to meet the growing demand, but also to develop the company sustainably.
Since 2017, patients have been able to obtain a regular prescription for cannabis for medical purposes from their doctor. According to Demecan, the partial legalization of cannabis in April of this year has also significantly stimulated the market for medicinal cannabis.
